Determine if upgrading with 9700k or 3700x is beneficial.
Determine if upgrading with 9700k or 3700x is beneficial.
Hello, I'm planning a significant upgrade for my PC next month and need help choosing the right components. I've mostly used Intel models before, but I've seen many comparisons between the 3700X and 9700K. I'm leaning toward the 3700X. The main tasks are gaming and media consumption, currently at 1080p, but I'd like to upgrade to 144Hz at 1440p. Cost is also a consideration. Your suggestions and opinions would be really helpful. My current setup includes an ASRock 270 Extreme4, an Intel i5 6600K, an H60 cooler, a Samsung 970 500GB M.2 drive, a 1TB 7200RPM HDD, an EVGA 500W Bronze graphics card, and possibly a second ROG Strix GTX 1070 8G. I'm thinking about adding a Corsair Vengeance LX 3000MHZ. Thanks in advance for your advice!
9700k would cost more overall (due to the extra price of a similar mobile processor), but it could boost some frame rates in certain games while potentially hurting performance in others. Most titles should see a slight improvement, though some might drop or match others. Generally, the new chip will add a few frames per second, but you may lose or tie with other models. Most games should still gain a bit with this upgrade. A Ryzen 3800x or 3700x would offer a better balance since they provide double the threads, which is especially useful if you plan to stream. Personally, I find Intel’s approach questionable—despite their claims, they often compromise quality and raise prices after performance gains. The 9700k is essentially an 8-core, 8-thread CPU, and because of its higher clock speeds it’s priced slightly above comparable AMD models with more threads. I wouldn’t recommend buying it unless you really need those extra cores.
I'm honestly in the same boat. I ended up swayed to team AMD when I first started getting into PC building back in 2017 mainly because of the way Intel does business. Not saying that AMD is saintly or anything, but that business practice should matter these days, especially now that we have a legit competition in the CPU space.
I get the vibe, but I’ll go with whichever offers better value. I’ve relied on Intel mainly because it’s consistently outperformed by AMD over time. The 3800X isn’t significantly faster than the 3700X, so the extra cost for speed or durability doesn’t seem justified unless you really need it.
The variation is slight, yet you'll notice an improvement in performance, particularly if you avoid overclocking.
You're not alone in feeling unsure about overclocking—especially if you're just starting with AMD. Many people are new to it and wonder if they can really push their system further. AMD has made great strides in performance, but overclocking isn't just about raw power; it's also about stability, compatibility, and understanding your hardware. It's perfectly okay to take your time learning—start small, test carefully, and don't rush into extreme settings.
Typically I see around 3-4 years of reliable performance from a CPU after upgrades. For AMD chips, you might get comparable results depending on the model and usage.
9700k should perform slightly better in 1080p during most games right now. At 1440p there won’t be a noticeable gap. The 3700x offers more long-term potential thanks to the additional eight threads. If games later require those threads, your performance may drop. You can probably upgrade to a next-gen Ryzen with the same board. The 3700x uses less power, is simpler to cool, costs less, includes a decent built-in cooler, and excels for heavy multitasking or streaming while gaming.
Deep Breath, consider this overview. AMD offers increased threads and better power efficiency, but often at a lower price point compared to performance gains. It sometimes has concerns about memory controller quality and average memory speed. AMD tends to push boosted clocks higher, though the extra headroom is limited—around 50MHz with some adjustments. The setup feels complex for overclocking, requiring many tweaks and often resulting in fewer yields.
AMD’s boosted performance comes with a trade-off: lower average memory frequency and less reliable memory support. The chip is designed to run at top speeds, but cooling becomes crucial when pushing all cores.
Intel delivers strong performance relative to cost, especially with high-speed memory options. It supports more threads out of the box, though top-tier chips can be limited. The 9700K model only provides eight threads, but 3700X is now a strong contender. Intel still excels in wattage and current handling, making it appealing for demanding tasks.
Overclocking remains possible, but as cores and threads increase, headroom shrinks—especially with stock speeds like 9900KS at 5GHz. The design prioritizes power delivery, which is evident in the soldered IHS. Overall, Intel balances performance and price well, while AMD focuses on cost-effective efficiency.